Stoker elevator



Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

1,565,018 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN M. LOWER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR .1

STOKER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCOMOTIVE sro'xea EnEvAroa.

Application filed ma 9,.1 925. Serial No. 7,835.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, NATHAN M. LOWER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stoker Elevators, of which the following is a specification,- and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to stokers, and more particularly to the elevating mechanism for delivering fuel to the firebox.

.The principal object of the invention is the provision of new and improved cooperating means on the screw elevator and its casing for preventing. unnecessary rotation of the fuel with the screw,,while the same is being elevated.

Another object of the invention is the I provision of a new and improved elevator screw whereby fuel may be more easily and economically elevated.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the backhead of a locomotive showing my invention in position thereon, with parts in section and parts broken away;

F g. 2 is a cross-section on line 22 of I I Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of -Fig. 1, with parts broken away. i

In the use of stoker mechanism for locomotives great difficulty has been experienced in obtaining eflicient action in.the opera- .tion of screw elevators due .to the tendency of the coal to rotate with the screw while it is being elevated.

In order to avoid or eliminate this diificulty meanshave been provided for increasing the frictional resistance between the fuel and the casing, whereby the fuel will be advanced as the screw rotates. In the form of the device selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention the changes made in the conventional type are associated with the elevator screw only, none being made in the casing. 1

On the drawing the reference character designates the backhead of a locomotive an opening 11 therein through which the distributor member 12. of the stoker 13 is adapted to extend. The stoker includes one or more elevators, only one being shown, each of which comprises a casing 14 in which is rotatably mounted the screw elevator 15. The elevator is rotated by any suitable power operated mechanism. A chamber 19 located below the casing 14 and in-communication therewith surrounds the lower portion of the screw elevator. Fuel is supplied to the chamber 19 by a suitable transfer screw v21 in the usual manner. Since the details of the stoker mechanism other than the screw elevator constitute no part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to illustrate or further describe the same.

In order to create sufficient friction between the fuel and the interior of the cas-h ing, to prevent it from turning with the screw as the latter is rotated, a portion, at least, of the flight 17 of the screw is inclined radially downwardly as best shown at 18 in Fig. 1,-whereby as the screw rotates, the fuel will be forced radially outwardly or wedged against the wall of the easing thereby creating sufficient friction to prevent the same from rotating with the screw. For convenience of description the angle formed by the radius of the screw and the sloping flight will be termed the angle of depression. Since the transfer screw 21 will deliver fuel to the chamber 19 under more or less pressure which will assist in elevating the fuel from the chamber 19 into the casing 14, the lower portion 16 of the flight of the elevator screw may be ofthe usual or any approved shape or form.

It will be understood that various changes in the form, size, construction, composition and arrangement of the several parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a stoker, an elevator casing, an ele-' vator screw rotatably mounted in said cas ing, and means independent of said casing and associated with said screw for causing increased resistance between the fuel and the casing during the elevation of the fuel by said elevator.

2. In a stoker, a fuel elevator comprising a casing, anda fuel elevator member rotatably mounted in said casing, said member comprising means for causing increased frictional resistance between said fuel and said casing during the elevation of the fuel by said elevator.

A fuel elevator, comprising an elevator casing, an elevator screw having a portion of its flight inclined radially toward one end of the screw, and means for rotatably mounting said screw in said casing.

4. In a stoker, an elevator casing and an elevator screw rotatably mounted in said casing, the flight of a portion of said screw being inclined radially downwardly.

In a stoker, an elevator comprising a screw having the lower portion of its flight extending radially at substantially right angles to the axis of the screw, and the, upper portion thereof extending radially downwardly.

6. An elevator screw for a stoker elevator having the angle of depression of its flight different at different portions of the screw.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NATHAN .M. LOWER. 

